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Understanding the Clear Difference between a CV and Resume
As a recruiter, one thing I have for sure noticed is most of my candidates hardly know the difference between a CV and a resume. So today I decided to write an article about this two piece of documents. In this article, I would outline detailed difference between a CV and a resume. You can also read about when to use a resume or a CV in this article here.
It is no doubt that most fresh graduates or even some senior candidates still fall into this little trap.
First of all, what is a CV? Is it different from a resume in any way?
Why do some candidates apply with a CV and others with a resume? Is it better to apply for jobs with a CV or a resume? All these questions will be answered in this article you are about reading.
One thing which I would also like you to know is that, the main purpose of a CV and a resume may vary based on where you find yourself, be it North America, Africa, Europe or Asia.
Let’s take a look at a summary of some differences between a Cv and Resume
- A resume is one to two pages long whiles a CV has no length limit
- A resume should only include those details about your work experience and skills that are relevant to the job opening
- a CV should detail the whole course of your career
- CVs are used for academic purposes and resumes to apply for jobs
Now let’s hit the road by tackling them one after the other starting with a CV;
What really is a CV and what is it made up of?
A CV (full form Curriculum Vitae which is Latin for “course of life”) is an in-depth document which describes the whole course of your career in full detail. It’s usually two- or three-page long but can just as well be laid out over 10+ pages, if necessary. A Curriculum Vitae contains details about your
- Education
- Professional career,
- Publications,
- Awards,
- Honours and other achievements.
In North America, a CV is used only for academic applications: academic jobs, grants, research fellowships, etc.
A CV is very detailed and comprehensive with many sections, no bullet points, and just plain text (after all, CV meaning is a course of life, no wonder it’s that long!)
What to Include in a CV:
- Contact Information
- Research Objective, Professional Profile, or Personal Statement
- Education
- Professional Academic Appointments
- Books
- Book Chapters
- Peer-Reviewed Publications
- Other Publications
- Awards and Honors
- Grants and Fellowships
- Conferences
- Teaching Experience
- Research Experience / Lab Experience / Graduate Fieldwork
- Non-Academic Activities
- Languages and Skills
- Memberships
- References
Resume
A resume (or résumé, from French “to sum up”) is a short, concise document used for job applications especially in North America. The purpose of a resume is to provide recruiters with a brief overview of the candidate’s work history. A good resume should be targeted at a specific job and one to two pages long.
What to Include on a Resume
- Contact Information
- Resume Summary or Resume Objective
- Work Experience
- Education
- Skills
- Additional Sections (Awards, Courses, Publications, Certificates, Conferences, etc.)
Summing it all up
A CV is a piece of document which is made up of the whole course of your career in full detail. Whiles a resume on the other hand is a one or two page document use in the application for a specific job post. If you find yourself in some parts of Europe or Africa, You will rather apply for jobs using a CV instead of a resume.
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